John Kyle (unionist politician)
Encyclopedia
John Kyle is a Councillor on Belfast City Council
, and the interim leader of the centre-left loyalist Progressive Unionist Party
(PUP) in Northern Ireland.
and Queen's University Belfast. He graduated as a doctor in 1975 and has practiced medicine in Belfast and London. Since 1993 he has been a General Practitioner
in Holywood Arches Health Centre.
Kyle was co-opted onto Belfast City Council following the death of party leader and MLA, David Ervine
in 2007, sitting with party colleague Cllr Hugh Smyth
OBE. Kyle is a member of Belfast City Council's Development Committee, Health and Environmental Services Committee, and the Parks and Leisure Committee. Due to the planned change in local councils in Northern Ireland, the local elections due for 2009 were postponed, awaiting provisions for the new eleven council model (as agreed by the DUP/Sinn Féin led government; and as a result Kyle, along with all other councillors remained in office. The next local elections are due in 2011.
Following the resignation of Dawn Purvis
MLA
from the party on 3 June 2010, Kyle was selected as interim leader. Purvis' resignation came in the aftermath of a killing in the Shankill Road area of West Belfast, widely believed to be carried out by the PUP-linked Ulster Volunteer Force. Purvis announced that she could no longer "defend the indefensible", in a clear reference to the killing. Kyle as a result became interim leader of a party facing a very uncertain future; with no representation in the Northern Ireland Assembly
, and loyalist politics in clear disagreement with the UVF. On the day after the funeral of the murdered man, Kyle claimed that he believed that the UVF had still not decommissioned all of its weapons - as previously confirmed by the Independent Monitoring Commission
.
A General Meeting of the Progressive Unionist Party held in Belfast on 10 June 2010 issued a statement detailing the Party's continued support of Dr Kyle as interim leader, whilst the party has "space and time for a period of mature and considered reflection with reference to its future direction."
Kyle has campaigned over a period of years against expansion of the George Best Belfast City Airport
because of alleged noise and other effects on householders.
Belfast City Council
Belfast City Council is the local authority with responsibility for the city of Belfast, the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland. The Council serves an estimated population of , the largest of any district council in Northern Ireland, while also being the fourth smallest by area...
, and the interim leader of the centre-left loyalist Progressive Unionist Party
Progressive Unionist Party
The Progressive Unionist Party is a small unionist political party in Northern Ireland. It was formed from the Independent Unionist Group operating in the Shankill area of Belfast, becoming the PUP in 1979...
(PUP) in Northern Ireland.
Background and entry into Politics
Kyle was born in East Belfast and attended Grosvenor Grammar SchoolGrosvenor Grammar School
Grosvenor Grammar School is a co-educational controlled Grammar School in Belfast, Northern Ireland. This inter-denominational school, with an increasingly multi-cultural population and outlook, has a staff of 73 full-time teachers....
and Queen's University Belfast. He graduated as a doctor in 1975 and has practiced medicine in Belfast and London. Since 1993 he has been a General Practitioner
General practitioner
A general practitioner is a medical practitioner who treats acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes. They have particular skills in treating people with multiple health issues and comorbidities...
in Holywood Arches Health Centre.
Kyle was co-opted onto Belfast City Council following the death of party leader and MLA, David Ervine
David Ervine
David Ervine was a Northern Irish politician and the leader of the Progressive Unionist Party .-Biography:...
in 2007, sitting with party colleague Cllr Hugh Smyth
Hugh Smyth
Cllr Hugh Smyth is a former leader of the Progressive Unionist Party. He is a long-serving member of Belfast City Council and former Lord Mayor of Belfast. He is also the longest-serving member of the council, having represented the Upper Shankill areas since 1973...
OBE. Kyle is a member of Belfast City Council's Development Committee, Health and Environmental Services Committee, and the Parks and Leisure Committee. Due to the planned change in local councils in Northern Ireland, the local elections due for 2009 were postponed, awaiting provisions for the new eleven council model (as agreed by the DUP/Sinn Féin led government; and as a result Kyle, along with all other councillors remained in office. The next local elections are due in 2011.
Following the resignation of Dawn Purvis
Dawn Purvis
Dawn Purvis was an Independent Unionist member of the Northern Ireland Assembly. She was previously the leader of the Progressive Unionist Party until she resigned in 2010. She lost her seat in the Assembly in the 2011 election.-Biography:...
MLA
Member of the Legislative Assembly (Northern Ireland)
Member of the Legislative Assembly is a representative elected by the voters to the Northern Ireland Assembly in Northern Ireland.- About :...
from the party on 3 June 2010, Kyle was selected as interim leader. Purvis' resignation came in the aftermath of a killing in the Shankill Road area of West Belfast, widely believed to be carried out by the PUP-linked Ulster Volunteer Force. Purvis announced that she could no longer "defend the indefensible", in a clear reference to the killing. Kyle as a result became interim leader of a party facing a very uncertain future; with no representation in the Northern Ireland Assembly
Northern Ireland Assembly
The Northern Ireland Assembly is the devolved legislature of Northern Ireland. It has power to legislate in a wide range of areas that are not explicitly reserved to the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and to appoint the Northern Ireland Executive...
, and loyalist politics in clear disagreement with the UVF. On the day after the funeral of the murdered man, Kyle claimed that he believed that the UVF had still not decommissioned all of its weapons - as previously confirmed by the Independent Monitoring Commission
Independent Monitoring Commission
The Independent Monitoring Commission was an organization founded on 7 January 2004, by an agreement between the British and Irish governments, signed in Dublin on 25 November 2003...
.
A General Meeting of the Progressive Unionist Party held in Belfast on 10 June 2010 issued a statement detailing the Party's continued support of Dr Kyle as interim leader, whilst the party has "space and time for a period of mature and considered reflection with reference to its future direction."
Kyle has campaigned over a period of years against expansion of the George Best Belfast City Airport
George Best Belfast City Airport
George Best Belfast City Airport is a single-runway airport in Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Situated adjacent to the Port of Belfast it is from Belfast City Centre. It shares the site with the Short Brothers/Bombardier aircraft manufacturing facility...
because of alleged noise and other effects on householders.